2018 Oxfordshire 7 v Buckinghamshire 13

Sunday 6th May Oxfordshire v Buckinghamshire Ladies at Henley RFC

First pool game for Bucks, with great rivalry between the two counties, this was always going to be a competitive game, on the hottest day of the year so far. The game was played with water breaks to allow some reprieve from the weather.

As expected the game kicked off at a blistering place with each team trying to dominate early. You could tell from the first few minutes that the game was going to be hard fought with some massive tackles going in.

Bucks came very close to opening up the Oxfordshire side with Jen Harvey No 7 for Bucks slicing through their forwards. Oxfordshire tried to put the pressure back on Bucks by kicking but Zoe Duckworth full back for Bucks was more than a match for every high ball the Oxfordshire fly half Carly Dudding sent over. The Oxfordshire no 8 even resorting to kick.

Cristina Balogun at 6 broke through the line, and although caught short, it gave Bucks great position in the Oxfordshire half, which Jen Harvey breaking through other numerous tackles scored the first points of the game. Not converted by Lauren Head fly half for Bucks.

Oxfordshire 0 Bucks 5

At 34 minutes Buckinghamshire was awarded a penalty in front of the post which Bucks Captain Nick Gross opted to kick, and her confidence in Bucks fly half was rewarded with 3 more points on the board.

Oxfordshire 0 Bucks 8

After half time, the Oxfordshire took the upper hand capitalising on a number of penalties against Bucks. Cristina Balogun being given a team yellow card for not letting go. However the Bucks defence was impressive, keeping Oxfordshire out and holding up one attempt over the line.
However it was only a matter of time and Oxfordshire fly half Carly Dudding broke though to score

Oxfordshire 7 Bucks 8

Bucks bounced back, after some great runs from Centre Sammy Graham gave Bucks good position, and allowing Bucks to get the ball wide down the hands for Zoe Duckworth Full back to score on the wing in the corner.

Oxfordshire 7 Bucks 13

Oxfordshire in managing to get the ball wide released their speedy winger, who was only taken into touch by the Bucks 7 Jen Harvey but unfortunately in doing so seriously injured her arm and was taken to hospital. An Oxfordshire player also went down soon after and after stoppage time the play got going for the last two minutes, which seemed to go for an eternity but Bucks kept Oxfordshire out to win the game.